11 Februari 2016

A New Plan to Attract and Retain Submariners

10 Februari 2016

A new program aimed at increasing the size of the submarine work-force has been launched. (photo : RAN)

A new program aimed at increasing the size of the submarine work-force has been launched.The Submarine Deliberately Differentiated Package was announced on 29 January, and Assistant Director of Navy Workforce Management (Warfare), Commander Guy Blackburn, said the package was a new approach to delivering Navy’s workforce requirements."It addresses the financial considerations as well as the wider professional, career and social issues that submariners indicated are affecting their intention to serve in the submarine capability and wider Navy," he said.The Royal Australian Navy remains committed to delivering a submarine capability that delivers “strategic deterrence, lethality, availability and sustainability”.However, the submarine workforce manning cannot be achieved through increased recruiting alone.To meet submarine work-force growth targets and remedy work-force sustainability issues, an immediate and enduring measure was required to attract and retain personnel into the submarine arm.“Other parts of the Navy work-force are also under pressure, and we’re trying to grow them, too," Commander Blackburn said."However, the submarine work-force has been consistently fragile and under-strength over the past two decades."The package comprises seven components (two financial and five non financial) for eligible submarine personnel who contribute to the submarine capability.The package is the first of its type to be used in the Australian Defence Force. It will provide a model for how Navy approached work-force challenges in other areas by carefully researching what motivates people and then enhancing those things that can help people make the decision to stay.(RAN)